and the amount collected in the last several years. I would like to have it in the record. Do you have it, Mr. McElveen? Mr. McELVEEN. No; I have it partially, but not as complete as you would like to have it. Mr. FLANNAGAN. You may get up a statement and file it for the record. Mr. McELVEEN. Yes, sir. (Table showing the total number and amount of crop and feed loans made from 1918 through 1943, with principal collections to and outstanding balances on December 31, 1943, by States and by Emergency Crop and Feed Loan offices, follows. There is also included a table showing number and amount of 1934-35 drought feed loans made, by States, with collections to and balances outstanding on December 31, 1943.) 1918-43 emergency crop and feed loans-number and amount of loans made and collected through Dec. 31, 1943, and balances outstanding, Dec. 31, 1943 1918-43 emergency crop and feed loans-number and amount of loans made and collected through Dec. 31, 1943, and balances outstanding, Dec. 31, 1943-Con. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Credit Administration, Division of Finance and Accounts. 1934-35 drought_relief_loans—number and amount of loans made and collected through Dec. 31, 1943, and balances outstanding, Dec. 31, 1943 1934-35 drought relief loans-number and amount of loans made and collected through Dec. 31, 1943, and balances outstanding, Dec. 31, 1943—Continued U. S. Department of Agriculture-Farm Credit Administration-Division of Finance and Accounts. Mr. FLANNAGAN. We also have with us Mr. Lovic Ponder, State Supervisor of Georgia. Mr. PONDER. Yes, sir. STATEMENT OF LOVIC B. PONDER, STATE SUPERVISOR, MADI- Mr. FLANNAGAN. What States do you cover? Mr. FLANNAGAN. You have heard Mr. Lindsey testify? Mr. PONDER. Yes, sir. Mr. FLANNAGAN. I will ask you to state for the purpose of the record if you agree substantially with the evidence given by Mr. Lindsey? Mr. PONDER. Yes, sir. Mr. FLANNAGAN. Is there anything further? Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Ponder, I suppose you have considered this section of the bill which deals with personnel which provides that: "There shall be transferred to the Corporation such of the personnel available, on the effective date of this act, for the discharge of the functions, powers, or duties abolished or transferred by this act, as the Secretary of Agriculture determines are qualified and necessary to carry out the activities of the Corporation"? Mr. PONDER. That is right. Mr. COOLEY. That language meets with your approval? Mr. COOLEY. I would like to say, in that connection, that the Administrator of the Farm Security Administration has stated to this committee publicly that in effecting any sort of reorganization, in the event this bill becomes law, that he will give the same careful consideration to qualified personnel in the Emergency Feed and Seed Loan Division and in the R. A. C. C. as was given to the F. S. A. as to personnel. There is another section about compromising claims. We have provided right broad authority for adjusting, compromising, and in some cases reducing and writing off certain of these old obligations which have been hanging on for years. Do you think that language is sufficient to take care of that situation in connection with the collection of a lot of these worthless claims? Mr. Ponder. Some of those loans possibly could be collected and some not. Mr. COOLEY. We do not write them off. We provide that the Corporation will review a man's situation, determine his ability to pay, and then reduce his obligations to a point where it might be hoped that he could meet his obligations in the future, and in some instances charge them off entirely. Mr. PONDER. I presume it would be all right. Mr. COOLEY. In that section, if it is a substantial amount, in excess of $10,000, it shall be effected by reference to the Secretary of the Treasury or the Attorney General, pursuant to existing law. Mr. PACE. Mr. Ponder, do you have available now, or would you like to supply later, a financial statement of the operations of the Emergency Feed and Seed loans in Georgia for the last several years? Mr. PONDER. I can give you some figures, but not as complete as I would like to have for you. Mr. PACE. But not as complete as you would like to have? Mr. PONDER. Yes, sir. I can give those for the information of the committee right now, if you would like to have them. Mr. FLANNAGAN. We will give you permission to prepare that statement and send it in for the purpose of the record. Mr. PACE. Prepare it and send it to me. I would like to have in the record a complete statement of your operations in Georgia. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman. Mr. FLANNAGAN. We desire to thank all of you gentlemen for appearing before us. (The statement referred to above is as follows:) EMERGENCY CROP AND FEED LOAN OFFICE, Hon. STEPHEN PACE, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. PACE: As per your request I am giving you below statistical information in connection with loans made in Georgia. Mr. McElveen wlll send you information covering the four States in the Columbia region, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as statistical records are kept by regions more than broken down by States. The cost per loan is figured for the region and not by States, and I am giving you below the cost per loan for the region for the years 1937 through 1943. I do not believe a record can be secured further back than 1937. The cost per loan in Georgia would be less than for the region. The small number of loans made in Florida naturally brings the average cost per loan higher for the four States. I am enclosing, in accordance with your request, statistical information furnished by our central office in connection with loans made and collected in the United States, which you will find self-explanatory. Very truly yours, Lovic B. PONDER, State Supervisor. |